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Tag: 2024-25 budget

Anna Maria budget preparations continue

Anna Maria budget preparations continue

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – The fiscal year 2024-25 city budget being crafted by Mayor Dan Murphy and city com­missioners proposes $5.82 million in operating and general expenses during the new fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1.

Presented by Murphy during the city commission’s second budget meeting on July 18, the projected expenses include employee salaries and wages and represent a $296,979 increase over the $5.53 million in similar estimated year-end expenses for the current fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.

The $5.82 million does not include the capital projects and infrastruc­ture improvements to be decided during the third and final budget meeting on Thursday, July 25. That meeting begins at 5 p.m. and will include the setting of the tentative millage rate.

During the commission’s initial budget meeting on June 27, Murphy proposed, and the commission tentatively supported, reducing the city’s longstanding 2.05 millage rate to the rollback rate of 1.8245 mills, or possibly lower.

Murphy said due to increased property values, the rollback rate would generate $4.24 million in ad valorem property tax revenues during the 2024-25 fiscal year. The proposed budget anticipates $18.2 million in total revenues that also include previously approved state appropriations, unused funds carried over from the current fiscal year and other funding sources.

On July 18, Murphy said the 1.8245 rollback rate would result in Anna Maria property owners not expe­riencing a tax increase. And if there’s enough money left after the July 25 capital improvements decisions, the millage rate could be lowered further and provide property owners with the first property tax reduction in Anna Maria that Murphy is aware of.

The millage rate and fiscal year budget will be finalized during two public hearings in September.

“I want to leave the city in good shape when I walk out the door,” Murphy said regarding his recent decision to not seek reelection in November after 10 years in office.

Departmental expenses

The largest proposed operating expense is $1.54 million for public safety, which includes $1.52 million for contracted law enforcement services provided by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Anna Maria Unit. Murphy anticipates a $184,042 (14%) increase for MCSO services in the coming year and is scheduled to meet with sheriff’s office representa­tives this week in hopes of reducing those anticipated costs.

The 2024-25 budget also currently proposes:

  • $777,984 for public works department expenses, a $26,267 (3%) increase;
  • $1.02 million for the administra­tion department expenses that include the city clerk’s office, a $22,693 (2%) increase;
  • $1.01 million for building department expenses, a $32,788 (3%) increase;
  • $723,671 for code enforcement expenses, a $22,906 (3%) increase;
  • $461,345 for parks and recreation-related expenses, a $8,154 (2%) increase; and
  • $81,880 for city commission expenses that include the mayor and commissioner’s salaries, a $52 increase.

Commissioner Jon Crane asked the commission to consider for future discussion increasing the mayor and commissioners’ salaries to help attract more city candidates in future election cycles.

The Anna Maria mayor earns $19,500 a year and commissioners make $4,800. The Bradenton Beach mayor earns $9,600 a year, while commissioners earn $$4,800 a year. It was stated the Holmes Beach mayor earns $28,160 a year and Holmes Beach commissioners earn $8,080.

Commissioners Gary McMullen and Kathy Morgan said they’d only support pay increases for the mayor and commissioners if it can be accom­plished while reducing property taxes.

Wage increases

Murphy proposes 5% salary and wage increases for city employees in the coming fiscal year. Murphy said the city recently conducted a city government wage survey that indi­cated city government employees are receiving pay increases in the 4% to 6.5% range, with 5% being the “sweet spot” in the middle of that range. Murphy said the wage increases will help the city retain current employees, attract new employees and help offset the impacts of inflation.

Related coverage: Mayor proposes reduced millage rate

Holmes Beach logo

City presents 2024-25 budget

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – City leaders are working to keep property taxes as low as possible despite property values increasing an estimated 11.8%. To do that, they’re planning to keep the millage rate at 2.05 mills for the coming fiscal year and cut expenses from the proposed 2024-25 fiscal year budget.

City Treasurer Cindy Dunham-Tozer presented the proposed budget to commissioners and Mayor Judy Titsworth during a July 9 budget work session. The total budget is estimated to break even at $24,750,162 including $11,007,006 in reserves and carryover. The total represents a cut of $742,676 from the current year’s budget.

Outlining some of the larger expenses for the year, she said that all the city’s insurance rates were increased by providers by an average of 5% with a 40% increase in flood insurance. Dunham-Tozer added that $322,000 also was set aside to purchase an algae harvester boat. Another $100,000 is planned to be set aside for unplanned attorney fees and court costs. She also noted that business in the city’s building department, which is designed to be self-sustaining from permit and inspection fees, is expected to slow over the next fiscal year.

MAYOR AND COMMISSION

The total mayor and commission budget for 2024-25 is expected to top out at $261,779, an increase of $2,414 over the current year. The primary reason for the increase is an additional $2,214 in mayoral and commission pay and accompanying payroll taxes. A $200 increase in utility services is also expected.

GENERAL GOVERNMENT

The general government budget, including the city clerk’s office, treasurer and human resources department, shows a modest increase of $87,575 to a total of $2,032,900. Though minor increases are noted in line items including postage, software and employee recognitions, the largest increase is $31,659 in employee insurance.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Holmes Beach Police Department’s budget is anticipated to come in at $5,485,088 for the year, an increase of $829,631 over the current year, though $225,000 of that amount is scheduled to come from reserves to purchase three vehicles. In recent years, city leaders opted to switch from leasing vehicles for the police department to purchasing them, potentially allowing for a longer lifespan for the use of the vehicles. The city is eligible to purchase three of the remaining eight vehicles from the lease term, eliminating the need for brand-new vehicles. Another big-ticket item is employee insurance, which is anticipated to increase by $142,033. Employee compensation shows a $290,786 increase along with a $55,000 increase in required overtime.

BUILDING DEPARTMENT

The building department’s budget is expected to come to $1,568,496 total, a $375,183 increase over the current year. An estimated $235,805 of the increase is expected in employee compensation with a $73,058 increase in employee insurance and $5,000 for the purchase of a drone.

PUBLIC WORKS

Coming out at $4,072,583, the city’s public works department budget is showing a proposed increase of $656,981 for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Much of that increase is due to pulling $307,000 toward the purchase of an algae harvester boat, $120,000 for the purchase of two pickup trucks and increases in employee insurance and compensation.

CODE COMPLIANCE

Where the city really saw some cost savings is in the code compliance department, where the planned budget dropped by $281,551 to a total of $620,594. The largest decrease is in employee compensation, which dropped $199,365 due to 50% of the code compliance staff transferring to the building department.